Woman-Owned Findlay Market Retailer Opens Second Location

Lucca Workshop Celebrates Grand Opening of New OTR Storefront

CINCINNATI (July 21, 2022) – After relocating her shop from Main Street to Findlay Market in late 2018, Lucca Workshop owner Lindsey Schweitzer says she has run out of space in her Elder Street store. A result of expanding both Lucca’s wholesale offerings and its machine shop, the store is bursting at the seams. As such, Schweitzer is thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of Lucca’s second location at 124 E. 13^th Street in Over-the-Rhine on Saturday, July 23. Part of Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC)’s Commons on Main project—a mixed-use affordable housing project completed with The Model Group—the 1,750-square-foot space includes room for both retail and events.

“We wanted to expand in ways that keep our customers engaged with the brand,” Schweitzer said. “So, we’ve created an event space where we will offer monthly workshops that allow our customers to come in and immerse themselves in creating the products themselves!”

Previously a retail-only shop, the addition of workshops and other events is a unique and welcomed change. Lucca’s first workshop will be a collaboration with The Rhined, a specialty cut-to-order cheese and wine shop in OTR, and will allow patrons to make their own wooden cutting board and charcuterie.

Customers can also expect to see a whole new product offering at the new location. While the Elder Street shop is known for smaller items like specialized gifts, unique accessories, wooden greeting cards, serving trays and cutting boards, the new location will branch off into furniture and home goods.

“The new store will have a huge curation of natural leather and wood furniture including chairs, consoles, tables and more,” Schweitzer said. “We will also carry kitchen accessories, art and other home décor, as well.”

Since officially opening in 2013, Schweitzer and her store have been extremely successful – even weathering a global pandemic in stride. The Lucca brand has become well-known among locals over the years for its high quality, unique products – and customers keep coming back for more.

“We are thrilled to add another woman-owned, woman-run business to OTR,” Lindzie Gunnels, Senior Commercial Leasing Officer for 3CDC, said. “We’ve witnessed Lucca’s success over the last several years, and it is so inspiring to see Lindsey’s business grow and evolve the way it has.”

Earlier this year, Lucca Workshop was one of 11 female-founded tristate businesses to receive a grant from Main Street Ventures – and the funding has certainly helped make it possible for the store to expand.  Schweitzer had been searching for a place to grow her business for almost a year when she found Lucca’s newest space on E. 13^th Street. She’d almost rented another space just before the pandemic hit and ultimately decided not to.

“It has been hard to find a store with a large double door to accommodate the large furniture we will be bringing into the new store,” Schweitzer said. “This new space is perfect! I am so excited that we’ll have space to do workshops. It will help us bridge the gap between shopping and food and give us a better opportunity to interact with members of the community. The area is full of life and Lucca will really complement its neighboring stores and restaurants.”

Lucca will celebrate the grand opening of its new space on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with light bites, live music and drinks. All are welcome to check out the new digs and shop Lucca’s brand-new line of products.

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